A powerful epic about the Crusades, Kingdom of Heaven is Oscar-winning director Ridley Scott's best film since Gladiator.
Starring Hollywood heartthrob Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings) as heroic knight Balian, the film portrays the courage of a young man who is compelled to take the right course of action under difficult circumstances.
Balian, originally a blacksmith in 12th-century France, follows his father Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) to Jerusalem as a crusader. Balian's faith is shaken following the death of his wife and child, and he hopes to make peace with God in the Holy Land.
Despite the truce between King of Jerusalem Baldwin IV (Edward Norton) and Muslim leader Saladin (Ghassan Massound), fighting breaks out between the Christians and Muslims.
The fighting develops into war, and Balian, with only a small army at his disposal, defends Jerusalem and its helpless citizens.
The first half of the film, focusing on politics and the relationships between the characters, is slow. But it gradually gathers pace and climaxes in explosive scenes of Jerusalem under siege.